On your next (or perhaps first) sailing vacation, are you looking for history-steeped villages and afternoon sea breezes? Croatia’s got those. Or maybe big wind is your thing? Greece and Turkey in the summertime are known for their blustery meltemis. Then again, if a midwinter tropical escape would better fit your plans, Navigare Yachting can help you there too, with bases in the Bahamas and both the US and British Virgin Islands. 

Launched two decades ago with a single charter location in Greece, Navigare today operates in 9 countries—with more on the way—and it offers sailors a fleet of more than 300 sailboats, including monohulls from builders such as Arcona, Beneteau, Dufour, and Jeanneau, and sailing catamarans from brands that include Lagoon, Bali, Excess, and Fountaine-Pajot. Recently the company has added Aquila power cats to its lineup, and coming next year, it plans to offer all-electric Island Spirit Catamarans for charter. The plan is for the 52-foot sailing E-cat to make its debut at the Miami International Boat Show in 2024. Check out all of these options on Navigare’s Charter Page.

The vast majority of Navigare’s charter yachts are privately owned and managed by the company. Early on, the fleet was made up entirely of monohulls, but today, roughly two-thirds of the boats are catamarans. On the sales side, nearly 90 percent of the vessels Navigare delivers to owners are cats, and the company estimates that eventually multihulls will make up 80 percent of the fleet worldwide.

Coming from Scandinavia, Navigare founder and CEO Jesper Rönngard says that he always thought of the Mediterranean as the warm place for sailors. About 10 years ago, though, the company expanded first to Thailand and then to the BVI. Tortola, he says, is the most popular destination with American sailors. Today, the company does about half its business in the Med, and the remainder elsewhere in the world, including the Virgin Islands, the Seychelles and Sweden. The Bahamas, he notes, is also an extremely popular destination and earns nothing but five-star reviews with charterers. In 2024, the company plans to add St. Maarten and Tahiti to its list of destinations.

All About the Boats

With Navigare, no matter where or what you choose for your charter, the common denominator across the company is the keen attention the staff pays to maintaining the fleet, Rönngard says. 

“We really try to take care of the boats,” Rönngard says. “And by taking care of the boats, we take care of the boat owners and make sure the boat owners are happy. And that way, kind of as a bonus, the charterers are really happy with the boats. That’s been our idea from the get-go. When we started the company, it was always about maintaining the boats, giving them proper service. This way, we knew that we would grow, just by word of mouth.”

That’s not to say that every boat and every vacation is trouble-free—they’re boats, after all. But having the ability to respond quickly with a chase boat to make needed repairs is also something the staff does well, he adds.

Options for Charterers, Choices for Owners

There are a number of ways to charter with Navigare, the most common of which is a bareboat vacation of a week or longer, where you get the boat to use with family and friends as you wish. Other options include skipper and luxury crewed trips, by-the-cabin charters, and flotillas, where a local guide leads a number of boats that share an itinerary that can include both free time and group events. 

Navigare also offers sailing instruction so that guests can learn to skipper their own bareboat yachts. The two-week course is taught from the company’s base in Seget, Croatia, and uses a curriculum developed by the International Yacht Training Organization. It allows students to earn an IYT Bareboat Skipper Certificate. Details can be found at Navigare Yachting .

Yacht sales are another important part of Navigare’s business plan. Its brokerage office is based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and the company offers three programs for buyers, ranging from a fixed monthly income plan to one that gives an owner lots more flexibility in terms of risk and revenue. 

Details of the ownership plans are spelled out on the Navigare Yachting website, which is chock-full of other information about locations, itineraries, charter options, and the sailing school. There’s even an app you can download, so you can dream about and plan your next vacation on the fly. 

So where do you want to sail next? Navigare has you covered.

The post Ready To Go Sailing? A Global Charter Company Gives You Options appeared first on Cruising World.

The daydreams are real: You’re moored in an exotic anchorage, savoring a gourmet meal on the aft deck with family and friends; you’re welcoming your business associates aboard your beautiful yacht for cocktails and networking; you’re sailing into the sunset in the BVI at the helm of your catamaran…. Until the realities of cleaning, dockage, maintenance, insurance and, oh yes, the overall cost of a yacht itself interrupt your yacht-ownership daydream in record-scratching fashion.

Thanks to a new and improved fractional program through Dream Yacht Sales & Ownership, your sailing-yacht-ownership daydream can now become a hassle-free reality.

What is Fractional Yacht Ownership?

A fractional-ownership program allows you and other like-minded individuals to purchase a share (or more) of a yacht in exchange for an allocated number of weeks of use per year. It offers an attractive buy-in price and shared usage costs that allow you to enjoy the benefits of yacht ownership without the prohibitive costs of full ownership. While some fractional programs have seen success, others have stumbled when it comes to the allocation of popular holiday weeks, destinations available, upkeep of the yacht, and return on investment. 

Dream Yacht Sales & Ownership has addressed these limitations with Dream Fractional, its unique fractional program, which immediately distinguishes itself from other programs with a low buy-in rate, legal titled ownership, reciprocal usage of other yachts in the program, and percentage payout of charter income from the owned yacht.

How Does Dream Fractional Work?

Dream Fractional offers ownership of one of five shares in a participating sailing monohull or catamaran. Dream Yacht retains one share of ownership, thereby affording owners a low 20 percent buy-in rate with shared usage across four owners instead of five. Each owner receives legal titled ownership per share purchased (unlike timeshares that provide members only a leased interest in the asset), with operating expenses managed by Dream Fractional and split among the co-owners.

Each Dream Fractional owner will enjoy five weeks of use aboard their shared yacht with reciprocal usage rights to any of the Dream Fractional yachts worldwide. As part of the Dream Yacht Group, which oversees one of the world’s largest fleets of sailing monohulls, catamarans and power catamarans in 50 destinations worldwide, Dream Fractional owners will enjoy concierge booking service and complete management of financials, insurance, cleaning, maintenance, and charter bookings through Dream Yacht’s experienced management network.

What Yachts Participate in the Dream Fractional Program?

Perhaps the most attractive aspect of the Dream Fractional program is the selection of yachts offered. Dream Yachts works with the world’s leading boat manufacturers such as Fountaine-Pajot, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Bali, Dufour, Lagoon and Excess. Whether it’s a 46-foot Lagoon based in the BVI or a 42-foot Bali based in St. Martin, Dream Yachts offers a curated selection of its most popular charter yachts for fractional ownership, which allows the yacht to be chartered out when not in use by an owner. In turn, a one-quarter share of 65 percent of any charter income is paid to each owner quarterly.

This feature is particularly enticing to frequent charter clients who will appreciate the investment opportunity as well as the ability to select from a variety of yachts based in destinations around the globe. Owners are not limited to one share and can purchase more than one to increase their boat usage to 10 weeks per year.

What’s My Return on Investment?

The Dream Fractional program offers the benefits of full yacht ownership management at a fraction of the cost, with the flexibility of reciprocal usage across a select group of well-managed yachts worldwide. Current participating yachts in the program range from a 39 foot Bali Catsmart in Grenada to a 46 foot Lagoon catamaran in the British Virgin Islands.

As a legal, titled co-owner of a popular charter yacht with an established charter program, Dream Fractional clients will enjoy a quarterly payout share of 65 percent of charter revenue, which further offsets the shared operating expenses. 

Yachts are kept in the program for 66 months (five-and-a-half years). At the end of the program, Dream Yacht Sales & Ownership fully manages the resale process, which includes finding buyers and coordinating offers—with fractional owners given the priority to purchase the yacht themselves. After the sale, each owner then recovers his or her share of the final selling price.

“Between the initial purchase-price savings realized by utilizing a yacht-sharing model, and the quarterly charter-revenue income, Dream Fractional makes owning a yacht much more attainable,” says Dan Lockyer, Dream Yacht’s Chief Revenue Officer. “Add to this equation the boat’s sale at the end of the program at an average of 50 to 55 percent of the original price, and the numbers become very attractive. For those who enjoy charter vacations, the reciprocal sailing in amazing destinations around the world makes it an easy decision.”

In tandem with the Dream Yacht Group’s overarching aim to make sailing accessible to all, the Dream Fractional program is designed specifically to make yacht ownership easy and more accessible. By testing the waters of yacht ownership without the limitations of high costs or overwhelming responsibilities, you can now turn that daydream into the realization of the big dream. So, go ahead—it’s time to buy the yacht.

For more information on Dream Yacht Sales & Ownership Dream Fractional program, please visit https://landings.dreamyachtsales.com/dream_fractional.

More Dream Yacht ownership programs can be found at dreamyachtsales.com.

The post Go Ahead, Buy the Yacht appeared first on Cruising World.

Imagine lounging with family or friends on the trampoline of a big roomy cruising catamaran—the only boat anchored in a bay surrounded by arid hills, with the towering Sierra de la Giganta mountains to the west and nothing around but sparkling blue waters sprinkled with islands, deserted beaches, and cozy coves to explore.

Welcome to the Sea of Cortez, and welcome to sailing vacations that begin and end at Marina Puerto Escondido, a well-sheltered harbor that’s been used by sailors for centuries, and that’s been home to West Coast Multihull’s Baja charter fleet since 2017.

The marina is located roughly 10 miles south of Loreto, Mexico, known as Loreto Pueblo Magico or “Magic Village” due to its vast cultural heritage as the site of one of the first missions settled in “Old California” Flights to and from the US are easily booked, which means this stretch of the Baja coast is quite accessible to American sailors from up north.

Marina Puerto Escondido offers a full-service marina, boatyard, market, store and restaurant, making it a perfect hopping-off point to visit the 10 nearby islands and dozens of uncrowded anchorages, each offering its own unique taste of Mexican cruising at its best. Keep an eye out for dolphins, fish, mobula rays and whales during the day. At night, soak in the dark night’s star-filled sky and enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature at these protected and uninhabited islands within the National Marine Park.

The islands are pristine, the personal watercraft and noise typically found around large resorts are nonexistent, and the chill factor is guaranteed.

A One-Way Option

Or perhaps you’d like to roam farther and explore the stunning 150 miles of coastline that stretch south from Loreto to La Paz. On a one-way trip such as this, each day brings new sights and adventures, and at the end, you simply drop off the boat and fly home without ever having to retrace your wake.

West Coast Multihulls founder and owner Kurt Jerman has sailed this stretch of the Baja Peninsula several times and ticks off some of his favorite islands along the way—Isla Monserrat, Isla San Jose, Isla San Francisco and Espiritu Santo (a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and national park)—before landing in La Paz.

The high seasons for chartering in the Sea of Cortez are October through mid-January and April through the end of June. During winter months, strong northerly winds can blow through, which attracts sailors who prefer more-challenging conditions and/or want to experience blue, gray and humpback whale migrations. For sailors looking for tranquil passages, summer is the best time to visit.

Winds tend to be light and water temperatures are warm, so you can swim, snorkel and scuba dive in one of the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems. “Around Loreto, the islands are pretty protected at all times of the year,” says Jerman, who describes the area as being the BVI of Mexico.

Bareboat and crewed charters are available on 44- to 50-foot catamarans, as well as ASA Sailing Classes ranging from Beginner to Advanced Sailing Courses with award-winning instructors who are passionate about sailing and sharing the cruising lifestyle with others.

California Dreaming

In terms of variety, WCM’s original charter base in San Diego has a little bit of something for anyone interested in a catamaran adventure. The list is long and includes afternoon and sunset sails, day trips, whale-watching, and seven-day and longer charters to destinations such as the winemaking region around Ensenada, Mexico, or coastal hops north to Oceanside, Dana Point, and an offshore crossing to Catalina Island to visit the famed ports of Avalon and Two Harbors before sailing home. Along the way, you’ll get to anchor or pick up moorings in some of Southern California’s most iconic cruising grounds. As is the case with the Mexico charter base in San Diego; you can charter the boat and sail off by yourself or go with captain and crew to ensure that your vacation is a breeze.

For monohull sailors curious to investigate the multihull lifestyle, WCM’s San Diego fleet offers an excellent variety from which to choose, with boats from builders such as Bali, Excess, Fountaine-Pajot, Leopard and Seawind. Sizes range from 36 to 44 feet.

American Sailing Association’s bareboat and catamaran certifications, as well as other sailing instruction, are also available. With a friendly crew ready to send you off and welcome you home, WCM’s San Diego charter base offers you a lot of vacation options and memories, all made right here in the USA.

The post All Cats, All the Time appeared first on Cruising World.

When Andrew Thompson co-founded Horizon Yacht Charters in 1998, he wanted to bring megayacht-quality service to bareboats. Thompson had worked as captain and crew aboard the larger yachts, and he believed that people chartering bareboats should have every right to expect similarly high standards for their own cruising vacations.

‘Our Mission statement in 1998, was ‘to offer immaculate yachts, exemplary customer service and value for money’, 25 years later, our mission remains the same, and we go the extra nautical mile every day to deliver on that’ he says.

Today, Horizon Yacht Charters has two locations: the main base at Nanny Cay on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, and a second location at Blue Lagoon Marina in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Both locations are known for their exceptional customer service. The base in the BVI is also popular for its restaurants, showers, hotel, beach bar and pool. This location is easily accessible with daily flights from Miami on American Airlines, arriving at Beef Island, Tortola.

“Our company takes great pride in being a local business with local operations, management and staff,” says Kim Struiken, finance and business development director. “Our local roots play a vital role in our success. We are committed to our community and to delivering an exceptional experience to our customers. This combination is part of the formula which sets Horizon Yacht Charters apart.”

Horizon Yacht Charters’ high-quality fleet of about 50 yachts in the BVI includes monohulls as well as catamarans from 34ft – 54ft.  The boats are maintained to a level that Thompson brings from his megayacht days, ensuring that guests can embark on their vacations with complete confidence in the seamless experience they’ll enjoy, regardless of the age of the yacht,(although most are 0-5 years old).

“We excel at providing yachts with all systems in order, with concours cosmetics and detailing “ Struiken says. “Most of Horizon’s staff have been here for many years. The first-ever employee of the company, Courtney Frett, our reservations manager, is still here, 25 years later. Our operations director, Henry Leonnig, has been here for 20 years, as have several other dock staff. They like what they do, and when people like what they do, they excel, and it allows you continuity of service – to offer real quality.” Struiken continues: ‘It is not just about the yachts, it is about the ‘boutique hotel’ level of personalized service you get at Horizon. Jalon Shortte epitomizes this as our larger-than-life Customer Service manager, who delivers boat and chart knowledge with a wicked laugh and a brilliant smile’.

Horizon Yacht Charters offers bareboat charters, skippered charters as well as luxury crewed charters with the added convenience of an all-inclusive package covering high-end gourmet meals, premium drinks, water toys, and more.

American Sailing Association (ASA) classes are also available at Horizon Yacht Charters Sailing School. Students can book a whole boat and cruise with a private instructor, or they can book a single cabin for a week on board a boat with an instructor and other students.

The instructors at Horizon Yacht Charters are top-notch. Just one example is Cara Brown, who, in 2022, was named one of ASA’s outstanding instructors. This award is given to the top 1 percent of all ASA instructors, as determined by student surveys. In 2022, there were 2,155 instructors eligible for the award; only 25 were named winners. And Brown was among just a handful of women in that already selective group.

“Cara is a terrific example of the outstanding team members we have at Horizon Yacht Charters,” Struiken says. “She’s originally from London, grew up in Italy, and has been sailing with Horizon in the BVI since she was a little girl—because her parents have had a series of yachts in our fleet since 2002, and they continue to do so to this day. Her own sailing experience includes the whole Caribbean as well as parts of Britain and Europe, she has a 200 ton yachtmaster licence in addition to her ASA qualifications. Cara is  also a qualified personal trainer, ski coach ( having been Britain’s women’s downhill champion for 5 years) as well as a PADI-certified open water diver. She speaks English, French and Italian fluently,  which means she can help so many people feel comfortable while learning to sail.”

Due to Horizon’s winning combination of top ASA instructors, a highly sought-after location, and exceptional customer service, it has been selected by the American Sailing Association as the destination for its 2024 Lenny Shabes Sailing Festival, scheduled from 16th to 23rd June 2024. Similarly, Jeanneau, one of the world’s leading monohull manufacturers, has also chosen Horizon for their Jeanneau owners rendezvous flotilla from 9th to 16th March 2024, driven by some of the same compelling factors.

Another way that Horizon Yacht Charters stands out is its additional charter broker services. While the staff at the base on Tortola can help clients book bareboat charters aboard sailboats in the Horizon Yacht Charters BVI and St. Vincent fleets, the team will also help clients book boats from other fleets all around the world—any kind of boat, anywhere the clients want to cruise.

“If we have clients who have been with us in the BVI and in the Grenadines, we can help them book a charter anywhere,” Struiken says. “Sometimes, people want to cruise somewhere different, and we are happy to assist with that.”

For clients interested in buying or selling a yacht, the Horizon Yacht Charters team is also available to help. The company is a distributor for Lagoon, Excess, FP and Nautitech catamarans, Jeanneau, Beneteau  and Bavaria monohulls, as well as ranges of centre console RIB’s and day boats. Horizon also maintains an active brokerage service with a wide range of listings, both in the BVI, and in Grenada, where Horizon also have a yacht management, refit and storage business.

“We are able to support our clients as their boating needs change throughout the years,” Struiken says. “Families grow, plans change, sometimes cruising ideas become bigger sailing ambitions. Our fleet, school, charters and yacht sales allow our clients to progress however they choose. And when they come back to us year after year, they see the same staff, ready to assist them. They feel like they’re coming home.”

“Whether charter client or yacht owner, from the moment of first contact until the final wave goodbye, whether that is a week or decades later,  our top priority is the customer experience. We look forward to welcoming you aboard”.  Struiken concludes.

How to book: Contact the Reservations team at res@horizonyachtcharters.comHome .

How to buy: Contact Robin at robin@horizonyachtcharters.com to find your new dream yacht or explore the selection of brokerage yachts available through Giles at giles@horizonyachtcharters.com.

For more information, please give us a call  on our toll free number (+1 877-494-8787) or visit our website Home .

The post A Winning Bareboat Experience appeared first on Cruising World.

This year, American Sailing is celebrating their 40^th anniversary of helping sailors around the world realize their dreams out on the water. Since 1983, more than 500,000 sailors become certified after passing classes offered by American Sailing schools in hundreds of ports around the world that let people of all skill levels begin and expand their sailing skills. 

Today, they are continuing that traditional, successful way of educating sailors at more than 400 affiliate schools, while expanding the curriculum and offering more online educational materials to help even more sailors continue the lifelong journey of becoming a skillful sailor.

“We’re bringing more options online, adding interactive classes, and thinking every day about ways we can engage sailors in the learning environment that suits them best,” says Jonathan Payne, Executive Director of American Sailing. 

American Sailing has had online classes available in the past, but the organization is now continually updating its offerings for live and on-demand online learning. Sailors who choose to join as members can receive discounts or free classes, and the options go far beyond basic classes; they also include skills such as passage planning, sailing at night, shorthanded sailing, weather, radar, and docking, to name a few. 

“We’ve always drawn on the most trustworthy, experienced experts in sailing to ensure our sailing students are confident in the education they are receiving,” Payne says. “Through our live and on-demand online classes, any sailor anywhere can hear Peter Isler, Bill Gladstone, Chris Bedford, John Neal, Andy and Lisa Batchelor, and so many other share their knowledge in practical and accessible ways, so people can learn from the best at their own pace, whenever they’re interested in adding new sailing skills.”

These online resources are being made available in addition to the foundational classes (ASA 101, 103, 104, 105, etc.) at American Sailing schools, which are easy to locate by region via the association’s interactive online map. Students can register for classes at schools near their own home port or at schools in destinations where they’d like to learn.

For instance, if you’re heading to some of the larger annual boat shows, you could pair the event with a course at a nearby American Sailing school. There are multiple schools in and near Annapolis, Maryland; Newport, Rhode Island; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida—to name just the major boat show locations.

“Our courses are great for first-time sailors, as well as old salts who want to pick up a new skill after seeing what’s new on the boat show docks,” Payne says. “Some of the more popular courses for more experienced sailors include Celestial Navigation and Offshore Passagemaking. If you’ve been cruising in your local waters for years and want to go farther afield, these are the types of courses that can help you get there.”

Having taught so many students throughout the years, American Sailing is the world’s leading educational resource for this type of learning. All are welcome into its classes—older, younger, athletic, differently abled — sailing is for everyone. Military veterans can receive a discount on some courses at specified American Sailing schools. Sailors who have taken the classes have glowing reviews.

“My wife and I just completed the combined ASA 101/103 courses. We both were new to sailing,” wrote students at the Myrtle Beach Sailing School in South Carolina. “We really enjoyed ourselves and can’t believe how much we learned. We intend to continue sailing and will take additional ASA courses.”

Similar comments can be found on the websites of ASA affiliate schools nationwide, such as Griffin Sailing School in Connelly, New York: “Kris was my instructor for ASA 101 and ASA 104. I’ve also logged over a thousand offshore miles with him. He brings a vast wealth of knowledge and experience to his work. Whether you want to learn just basics or are looking to become a world-class offshore racer, Kris will teach you exactly what to do and how to do it as efficiently as possible.”

For anyone interested in bareboating, the ASA is also a gateway to the certifications that many charter companies now demand. These certifications can allow ASA graduates to charter monohulls or catamarans for sailing vacations all around the world.

“Charter companies want to make sure that anyone using their boats is knowledgeable at the helm. They’ve seen first-hand the difference in sailors who are formally educated, and most require certification through at least 104,” says Cindy Shabes, President of American Sailing. “We not only teach the basics that bareboaters will need to sail the boats, but we also emphasize safety so that everyone can feel relaxed and comfortable on board. ”

Once sailors take their first steps down this educational path, she adds, they generally want to continue. 

“Safe, confident sailing becomes a lifestyle,” Shabes says. “If you feel good about your skills, you’re likely to sail more, to invite friends and family to join you, and to have a great time out on the water. That’s the goal with every class we teach, at every level of instruction — we want people to come away with brilliant memories of times on the water shared with friends and family.” 

The 101, 103, and 104 certifications also translate to an IPC, if you are headed for Mediterranean waters. The IPC is a certificate equivalent to the ICC, which is required by most countries to charter in Europe and the Mediterranean. You can learn more about the IPC on the American Sailing website. 

Another option for learning is a sailing vacation that’s part of a flotilla, which means you charter your own bareboat but are cruising with a group of boats that includes an ASA-affiliated leader. The leaders organize the itineraries for ease of sailing based on their local knowledge, and are available throughout the cruise to help with any questions or challenges that students have.

There are flotilla options with American Sailing Vacations through affiliate locations in the Pacific Northwest, the British Virgin Islands, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Spain, Italy, French Polynesia and beyond. Just about every season of the year, a flotilla is launching somewhere. 

“Flotillas are a fantastic way for all kinds of sailors to get to know a new destination,” Payne says. “Even the most experienced sailors will tell you that having local knowledge can make the difference between a cruise being good or great. These flotillas can combine fun, education and local knowledge in ways that are simply unmatched.”

Ready to start improving your own sailing skills? Learn more at asa.com.

The post Education for the Modern Cruising Lifestyle appeared first on Cruising World.

Dreaming of the wind in your hair, the sun on your face, and pure sailing exhilaration in the environs of an exotic destination? Perhaps it’s an annual quest. Or a lifelong dream. But where to begin? Once you’ve identified the destination, finding a reputable charter company, well-maintained boats and staff with intimate, local knowledge can be a daunting task.

What if you love the water, have spent many hours on your favorite lake or river but are not comfortable heading out on the ocean with your family all by yourself? With a bareboat charter out of the question and luxury-sailing-yacht charter options often out of reach, for many, the dream of sailing the big blue has remained just that—a dream.

But fear not, ye wistful ocean lover, whether you are a neophyte or an expert mariner, Dream Yacht Worldwide is uniquely positioned to facilitate those sailing dreams.

Founded in 2000 in the Seychelles, Dream Yacht was the vision of founder Loïc Bonnet, who set out to revolutionize the charter industry by making sailing an accessible activity for sailors and nonsailors alike. What began with six sailing charter vessels cruising the idyllic waters of the Indian Ocean has expanded dramatically over the past two decades.

Today Dream Yacht offers nearly 1,000 sailing yachts from 34 feet to 58 feet and power and sailing catamarans in 50 of the world’s most exquisite cruising destinations. What’s even better? Dream Yacht is purposefully designed to provide sailors of any skill level the sailing experience of their dreams.

On Location

With Dream Yacht Worldwide, you can think beyond the BVI and Caribbean milk runs, although there are plenty of Dream Yacht charter vessels in these areas too. Dream Yacht Worldwide offers more choices of destinations around the world than any other yacht charter company. This gives exceptional peace of mind that lets you know that no matter what destination you choose next, the charter vessels will be well-maintained and offered at the same high standard of service you’ve come to expect of Dream Yacht based on the sailing grounds you’ve already come to know. 

In fact Dream Yacht has so many destinations to choose from that if you decided to go sailing for a whole year, you could explore new cruising grounds every week without visiting the same islands twice, unless you wanted to. Imagine gunkholing in Thailand’s remote coves and anchorages, diving off the bow in Tahiti, or sailing under a fjord’s waterfall in Norway. 

Picture yourself savoring the cuisine and soaking up the Mediterranean culture while meandering along the coastlines of Italy, France, Greece or Spain. Step back in time in Croatia or Turkey, or battle the elements in the rugged seas of the Atlantic off Brittany or La Rochelle. With many European countries not just sporting one, but three or four Dream Yacht bases you will get the opportunity to constantly sail where the wind and weather is best for sailing at that time of the year.

Perhaps you envision catching the elusive green flash from the aft cockpit in a beautiful Caribbean or Bahamian destination, watching the sunrise, with your morning coffee, along the US eastern seaboard, or charting a new course in the Sea of Cortez or the Whitsunday Islands. From St. Martin to Sweden, the destinations offered by Dream Yacht will inspire you to expand your sailing horizons.

Dream Yacht’s unique premise is simple. Once you’ve selected a destination, it’s time to identify your preferred vacation style. Dream Yacht offers sailing experiences to suit every cruising preference, from bareboat and skippered to by-the-cabin and fully crewed charters or long-term rentals.

The Bare Essentials

When all you need is a reliable, well-maintained vessel that you can handle yourself, a Dream Yacht bareboat charter is for you. With a bareboat charter, you take care of your own provisioning, plan your own itinerary, and spend your days exploring at your own pace. The caveat? You must be experienced with the type of vessel you plan to charter and in some countries need official documentation regarding your skills. If you plan to explore the Mediterranean, for example, you will need your ICC certification. 

Aye Aye, Captain

Leave the anchoring and the chart plotting to the captain on this vacation with a Dream Yacht skippered charter. Perfect for those with little to no sailing experience—or for those who simply want to sit back and enjoy the world go by—a skippered charter brings a professional and experienced captain on board to man your vessel. Dream Yacht’s captains all have professional sailing experience and vast local knowledge of their respective destinations.

All the Bells and Whistles

For the complete all-the-frills experience, consider a fully crewed yacht charter. With this option, you and up to 11 guests can set sail on a large private monohull or catamaran yacht, and be catered to from the moment you step foot on board until your departure. Dream Yacht Worldwide hand-picks your professional crew to handle the itinerary, provisioning and daily cabin service, and you will enjoy water toys, a fully stocked bar, and scrumptious meals prepared to your culinary preferences by your own personal hostess.

Dream Yacht’s “easy crewed” product offers a bridge between a skippered and fully-crewed charters for groups of up to 10 family members or friends traveling together. You decide how little or how much service you need. Easy crewed charters are currently offered in select destinations in the Mediterranean, the Seychelles, Tahiti, the BVI, and Martinique.

Space for Two…or a Few

If a whole boat is more than you need, you may be most comfortable with a cabin charter, which is a shared-vessel experience that gives you a single or double cabin with a private en suite in the company of other like-minded travelers. The cabin charterers share a full crew, a set itinerary, daily meals with drinks and snacks, and the option for additional onshore excursions.

A Quest for Sustainability

As pioneers in their industry Dream Yacht just started adding a selection of electric sailing catamarans to their charter fleet. Quietly and emission-free gliding through the waves, even when there’s no wind to power you, is another sailing dream come true.

With 50 full-time and seasonal locations throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Oceania, Asia, the Americas and Europe, Dream Yacht Worldwide has become a household name in sailing charter vacations. Loïc Bonnet’s vision of offering more boats, more destinations and more choice than anyone else is now a reality, and with its high standard of service, local knowledge and suggested itineraries, Dream Yacht is both an avid sailor’s and a novice’s dream guide to discovering the world’s best destinations.

For more information and booking details, visit dreamyachtcharter.com.

The post Around the World in 50 Destinations appeared first on Cruising World.

Imagine waking up on board, stepping into the cockpit to enjoy the picturesque view of a Virgin Islands harbor, and—instead of having to check the battery levels and weather forecast—sitting down to a gourmet breakfast of eggs Benedict or salmon quiche.

Or, perhaps, waking up from a nap after a lunch of freshly made crab cakes and seeing the water toys already launched and ready for you to play in the sunshine and warm water.

These are the types of moments that a crewed charter makes possible with MarineMax Vacations. When clients book an itinerary aboard the MarineMax 545, they can choose to add a professional captain and chef, who use their local knowledge and hospitality training to enhance every charter experience.

“Maybe you’re used to bareboating, where you do all the driving and provisioning and cooking on board,” says Madison Hackett, content and experience coordinator with MarineMax. “That’s a fun vacation too, but this is a level up. This is an augmented experience.”

The MarineMax 545 is a five-stateroom Aquila power catamaran with amenities such as full-size refrigeration, individual air-conditioning controls in each stateroom, 6-inch-thick queen- and king-size mattresses, and more.

“The carefully selected crews enhance the vacation experience, and include professional captains and culinary experts familiar with secret anchorages,” says Raul Bermudez, vice president of MarineMax Vacations. “The guest experience promises to be remarkable. From expertly prepared menus tailored to specific guest needs to extensive local knowledge and guide services for snorkeling, hiking or simply unplugging, these crews are top-notch, and we are so excited to introduce them to our loyal, enthusiastic guests.”

A virtual walk-through of the MarineMax 545 is available on the company’s website, so charter clients can get to know the boat well in advance of stepping on board. The master stateroom is forward on the main deck, with views of the yacht’s surroundings in just about every direction. Each of the guest staterooms on the lower deck has a private bathroom, along with hanging lockers, drawers and cabinets to provide charter guests with plenty of stowage. 

The communal guest areas are also spacious and bright, with indoor dining in the salon as well as outdoor dining with extraordinary views from atop the flybridge, where there’s a wet bar and a grill.

Chefs aboard crewed yacht charters can cook meals from up there, or use the spacious, open main-deck galley to create memorable menus that are tailored to clients’ individual tastes. Clients with MarineMax Vacations will be asked their food preferences and dietary needs in advance of the charter booking so that the chef can provision the boat specifically with foods they like—and prepare recipes that are an ideal, customized fit for meals and snacks at all times of the day.

Just a small sample of options that are available for breakfast: a BLT with Dijon mayonnaise and arugula, served with truffle chips; or mini frittatas with ham, cheese, tomato, spinach, bacon and cheddar; or breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs, avocado, beans and spicy potatoes. For lunch, clients might select a seared tuna salade niçoise with homemade garlic bread; or chicken gyros served with pita bread, tzatziki and a fresh Mediterranean salad; or lobster tails with garlic-butter sauce, grilled pineapple salad and honey dressing. 

Midafternoon snacks could be a charcuterie board, canapes or sliders. At night, the chef can prepare a multicourse dinner of, say, a caramelized onion and brie tart appetizer followed by main dish of pork tenderloin in honey-garlic sauce with a cauliflower puree and roasted sweet potatoes, and, finally, a dessert of white-chocolate mousse served with passionfruit and pistachios. 

And in between all those delicacies, clients can be as active as they want to be with swimming and watersports, head ashore to explore, or simply relax in the sun on board. Dining ashore is also an option, if guests would like to enjoy some time off the boat in a local setting. 

“Having the crew gives you a lot more time to actually have a vacation,” Hackett says. “You’re not looking for mooring balls or checking watermakers. You get all of that time back.” 

The length of a crewed charter aboard a new MarineMax 545 can be fully customized for up to three weeks. Many clients choose one week, with longer itineraries making it possible to explore farther in the Virgin Islands such as Anegada. 

Some clients also choose a “surf-and-turf”-style vacation, with part of it taking place aboard a MarineMax 545 and part of it happening at an Airbnb in a destination such as Oil Nut Bay on Virgin Gorda. In many cases, Hackett says, the boat’s crew can drop off guests right at the Airbnb for a seamless multiweek experience. 

Whether you prefer to take the helm or charter your next vacation, the team at MarineMax is there to provide unmatched service. 

“Focusing on maintaining the MarineMax standard with quality, trained and local professional staff has built a team unlike any other in the territory,” Bermudez says. “Our staff at the base is among the highest caliber in the Islands. Our customer-service specialists have deep relations and connections across the island chain to deliver your every desire. And our factory-trained technical staff stocks an abundance of on-hand parts to keep vessels in top shape and ensure efficient and reliable service. No one in the business has this level of commitment to delivering reliable and professional charter experiences.”

For more information and booking details, visit marinemax.com/vacations.

The post MarineMax Vacations: The Ultimate Crewed Charter Getaway appeared first on Cruising World.

There is nothing quite like a sailing vacation. Whether you’re after sunshine and beam reaches, rum drinks and reggae, or quiet anchorages and adventures ashore, a charter with The Moorings can deliver exactly what you have in mind.

“The British Virgin Islands is our flagship operation and the most popular charter destination in the world”, says Josie Tucci, VP of Marketing for The Moorings. “Over the past few years we have made unprecedented investments in the marina facility and fleet in the BVI, which have all recently been completed. Whether it is your first time visiting us, or you are revisiting The Moorings for the first time in a while, we are confident guests will be pleased with the improvements welcoming them upon arrival.”

From a new watersports shop, to newly-built docks, a new on-site supermarket and remodeled hotel, there is no shortage of upgrades to experience. Also new is the option for a skipper-only charter aboard a dedicated catamaran, in addition to traditional bareboat and fully crewed options. A skipper-only charter is a great choice for anyone who wants a skipper on board to handle all the safety, operation and navigation needs—not to mention bringing in-depth local knowledge along for the ride. With a skipper-only charter, guests are in charge of their own meals. If you enjoy dining ashore at the BVI’s restaurants and bars, then a skipper-only charter can be a great choice.

“The beauty of a charter with The Moorings is that you can enjoy your vacation your way,” Tucci says. “If you want to be fully in command as a bareboater, you can do that. If you want a skipper to handle the boat for you, that’s an option too. And if you want a fully crewed package with a chef to take care of meals, we have wonderful, professional Crews on staff ready to pamper you. However you envision the perfect cruising vacation, The Moorings can make it happen.”

The Moorings flagship base at Road Town, Tortola, had to be completely rebuilt after Hurricane Irma. They took the opportunity to reimagine the base with everything you need to equip your yacht for your itinerary around the BVI. From thenew Moorings Market for provisioning food and beverages (with an online-shopping option), to the water toy rental and watersports shop run by Sail Caribbean Divers, you’ll have everything you need without having to endure an off-base excursion. Just enjoy your first night with dinner and drinks at Charlies Restaurant, featuring  a revamped menu.. There’s also a rejuvenated fleet of sailing catamarans such as the Moorings 4200, the larger Moorings 4500 and the flagship Moorings 5000, each of which won Boat of the Year honors upon launch. The power catamaran fleet now includes the three-cabin Moorings 403PC, the four-cabin 464PC and and the larger 534PC. Prefer a monohull? No problem. As many as 12 brand-new monohull yachts arrive this fall.

And, in great news for anyone traveling from the United States to the British Virgin Islands, American Airlines is now offering seasonal nonstop flights from Miami to Beef Island, Tortola. These flights will operate during the summer and winter months.

Once aboard the boat, the rest of the BVI is yours to discover—explore the magical Baths on Virgin Gorda; sip a Painkiller at the Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke; and check out the Indians, one of the best snorkeling spots in the area. 

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, from The Moorings base at the Marina at Yacht Haven Grande, you can explore all that St. Thomas offers, including abundant shopping and nightlife. Then head out to explore beautiful and laid-back St. John, where you can experience the pristine beaches of Cinnamon Bay, excellent snorkeling at Leinster Bay, and even some hiking trails at Virgin Islands National Park.

Abacos, Bahamas

The Moorings base at the Abaco Beach Resort is located in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, a central location that makes it the perfect place to start your exploration of the Abacos—a longtime favorite destination for cruising sailors. Enjoy sailing in the protected waters of the Sea of Abaco to destinations that include quaint villages such as Hope Town and Green Turtle Cay, and abundant secluded anchorages.

Exumas, Bahamas

If you’re looking for an out-islands experience, an Exumas charter might be for you. Departing from The Moorings base at Palm Cay Marina in Nassau, Bahamas, visitors can then cruise down to the Exuma Cays, a string of 365 islands and cays that stretch for 120 miles. Many sailors who have traveled the world agree that the Exumas are their favorite cruising grounds. Once you go, you will understand. From exploring the mangrove creeks of Shroud Cay and the incredible Thunderball Grotto to the friendly settlement of Black Point and colorful Staniel Cay, the Exumas offer a wide variety of experiences—and unforgettable sunsets on the Great Bahama Bank.

The Magical Med

If your dream sailing vacation includes exploring ancient ruins, villages steeped in history, and a variety of sailing conditions, a sailing vacation in the Mediterranean might be just what you’re looking for. From The Moorings bases in Italy, Greece and Croatia, you can choose the Med experience that suits you best. Looking for sun-soaked beaches, quaint tavernas and excellent scuba diving? Try a charter from Corfu in Greece. Does visiting an abundance of islands offering everything from wild, barren landscapes to historic towns and lively nightlife sound ideal? A Croatia and Dalmatian Islands charter is for you. How about a view of mountain peaks, incredible cuisine, and soaking in hot springs? Check out a sailing vacation from Sicily.

Whichever location you choose, a charter in the Med is an incredible experience. If you are looking to do a bareboat charter in one of these destinations, you will need to have an approved sailing license, such as an International Proficiency Certificate, or have passed ASA 104 (Bareboat Cruising) or US Sailing Bareboat Cruising courses. No certifications? No worries. Crewed charters are available with a captain and a chef.

And don’t worry if you can’t make up your mind about which destination you want to visit next. With so many fantastic options, it sometimes takes several charters to enjoy them all.

“Some of our guests return to The Moorings year after year, exploring new destinations, trying out new boats, and further improving their own sailing skills,” Tucci says. “The fun can be endless if you’re cruising with family and friends. These are the kinds of memories that will last a lifetime.”

For more information and to start booking your charter vacation, visit The Moorings or speak to a vacation planner directly by calling 800-416-0247.

The post Better Than Ever appeared first on Cruising World.

Did you know that one of the most popular ways to go on a sailing vacation in the Med is to join a flotilla? It’s a relatively novel concept in the North America and Caribbean charter markets, but if you want to expand your sailing horizons, it might be just what you’re looking for—whether you’re a newcomer to sailing or an old salt.

Curious? Let’s look at what a Sunsail flotilla is and what the experience is like by debunking some misconceptions.

What is a Flotilla?

Sunsail pioneered the flotilla charter concept in the 70’s and has since welcomed tens of thousands of sailors from all over the world to this unique social-sailing experience. Celebrating 50 years in business in 2024, Sunsail is the go-to charter provider for bareboat sailing and flotilla vacations. The company’s mantra is that it is run “by Sailors, for Sailors”, and this passion for sailing shines through every part of the customer journey.

 In its most basic form, a flotilla is a group of yachts chartering together with some extra support and a structured itinerary. What does this look like in practice? A Sunsail flotilla typically lasts one or two weeks, and has about eight to 10 participating boats along with a lead boat, which has a skipper, technician (to help with any mechanical issues on the boats) and host. Depending on the route and timing, there might even be an activity coordinator just for kids.

What makes the experience special is all the details—such as sailing routes, moorings and marina stays—are worked out ahead of time, and there is a variety of optional planned activities. Each morning, the flotilla skipper hosts a chart briefing to go over the day’s journey and any weather updates, as well as places of interest to visit. As the boats arrive at the destination, the lead boat crew is there for assistance with tying up at the night’s mooring or dock. The flotilla host plans events, including beach barbecues, punch parties and group dinners, so you can get to know your sailing group. The host can also direct you to the best restaurants, beaches and local attractions.

Sunsail flotillas are primarily available in the Mediterranean at bases in Croatia, Greece and Italy. Each flotilla destination has a unique itinerary, so you can choose something that interests you. Want some action? Try kitesurfing on a Lefkas, Greece, flotilla. Is history your thing? You’ll find an abundance of historical sites to visit on Sunsail’s flotilla route from Dubrovnik, Croatia. For something a little different, Sunsail also offers themed food-and-wine flotillas in Italy.

“Our food-and-wine flotillas have proved incredibly popular,” says Josie Tucci, Sunsail’s vice president of sales and marketing. “We’ve redone our Croatia itineraries to capture even more of the coastline’s natural beauty and architecture, and we recently added another food-and-wine flotilla option in Italy. Our goal is to help Sunsail guests experience the very best of the region, as well as authentic local cuisine, at every stop along these itineraries.”

Still have some questions? Let’s bust some myths about flotilla charters!

Myth 1: I’ll be sharing the boat with strangers

Not true! Each boat on a Sunsail flotilla is booked and sailed individually, just like it would be if you were doing a bareboat charter. Just pick your crew and choose your boat! Alternatively, if you’re new to sailing (or just want to relax more), you can hire a skipper for the duration of the flotilla. Or you can turn the adventure into a real learning experience through the Sunsail Flotilla Hero program, which provides Royal Yachting Association instruction, allowing you to earn certification while on vacation.

Myth 2: We will have to sail in a line from place to place and won’t have any freedom to do what we want.

This is a common misconception about flotilla charters, but nothing could be further from the truth! While there is a set flotilla itinerary, charterers are free to sail as they wish between destinations many itineraries include a free day, allowing crews to set their own agenda. Any planned activities, meals or excursions are optional.

Myth 3: Flotillas are only for beginner sailors.

Flotillas are for sailors of all experience levels. Just like a bareboat charter, however, the skipper of the boat needs to be qualified. If you’re planning on a Sunsail flotilla in the Med, you will need to have certifications through ASA 104 (Bareboat Cruising) or US Sailing Bareboat Cruising. After that, you can apply for an International Proficiency Certificate, which is the US equivalent to the International Certificate of Competence typically issued by the RYA.

Many recently certified sailors enjoy the structure and additional support flotillas offer, which allows them to get a bit steadier on their sea legs before doing a solo bareboat charter. Are you an old salt but new to chartering in the Med? A flotilla is an excellent way to get familiar with a new cruising ground. Cruising with kids? Sunsail flotillas are great for families and provide opportunities for the kids to make some new friends.

Ian Pedersen, Sunsail’s senior marketing manager, offers one piece of advice for someone looking to try their first flotilla: “Keep an open mind, and embrace the social aspect of the flotilla concept,” he says. “People from all over the world and all walks of life come together to celebrate a week on the water, and that is where lifelong acquaintances and friendships can be made. You begin the week as complete strangers, but shared experiences like this really have a way of bringing people together.”

Start booking by visiting sunsail.com or speak to a Sunsail vacation planner directly by calling 800-734-5254.

The post Myth-Busting Flotillas appeared first on Cruising World.

Philip Barnard’s family arrived in St. Vincent and the Grenadines more than a century ago, in 1902. His grandfather sailed the local waters. His father then grew up on local boats, and his mother started Barefoot Charters in 1991—an unusual, if not monumental, achievement for a woman in those days. Barnard followed his family’s lead and, today, owns the company known for its well-developed charter base and sailing school.

“We have relationships that go back generations with service providers,” Barnard says. “I know every inch of water down here, taught to me by my dad and granddad before we had GPS. That allows us to show people an experience that’s a little different.”

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in the southern part of the Caribbean, which is far less developed than the northern charter meccas such as Antigua and Saint-Martin. The experience in this part of the Caribbean is often described as untouched—much like the other, busier islands were decades ago.

Still, there are modern conveniences. The $259 million Argyle International Airport opened just a few years ago on the eastern side of St. Vincent, giving visitors a first-class travel option for accessing the tranquility of the archipelago. American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada and other providers offer service here.

The islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines run north to south, like an unfastened string of pearls. Conditions are different from other charter hotspots such as the British Virgin Islands, and sometimes include sailing in pure Atlantic Ocean winds.

Barnard describes the locale as ideal for bareboaters who want to step up their sailing game with a bit more of a challenge.

“It’s not like the fishpond sailing in the Virgin Islands,” he says. “Down here, the winds are stronger. This is better-suited for intermediate and advance sailors—and it’s why our sailing school is so good. We can access just about any conditions we want.”

Barefoot Charters offers American Sailing Association and Sail Canada classes that start at beginner level and go up to teaching people how to become instructors. The company also has specialty programs focused on living aboard offshore, preparing for offshore passages and learning how to make decisions in high-stress situations, such as major storms. In some cases, instructors include former participants in the Vendée Globe singlehanded, nonstop round-the-world yacht race.

“These extra courses are for people with bigger aspirations, who want to take the family and go all around the world,” Barnard says. “These techniques make you a better sailor in everyday situations too.”

And Barefoot Charters has a well-established base that not only has a restaurant and rooms for bareboat clients, but that also can handle repairs on everything from sails to fiberglass to diesel engines.

“It’s not a dock with three boats and a guy in a little office,” Barnard says. “We don’t have a chandlery in St. Vincent; although it’s a sailing location, there’s no sail industry, so we have to be self-sufficient.”

Teaching boaters to be self-sufficient is also part of the Barefoot Charters operation. The company offers a program that it calls a mentor charter, where clients are on their own chartered bareboat, fully in command and control, but moving through the islands on itineraries that are like a flotilla, so there is always help nearby if needed.

“It’s for confidence-building the first time out,” Barnard explains. “You can say that you sailed a boat for a week. You got your first 50 miles. That’s the prerequisite a lot of the charter companies have.”

That kind of sailing—and all other types of bareboating—can be done aboard the diverse fleet of boats that Barefoot Charters offers. Unlike other companies that focus primarily on, say, only one type of catamaran, Barefoot Charters offers cats as well as monohulls that are built for different purposes.

Barnard says that the fleet breaks down into two general categories: performance boats and boats that offer luxury comfort at anchor. The idea is that different boats are meant to do different things, so bareboaters should be able to enjoy whichever aspect of cruising appeals to them most. Want to go fast on a broad reach? You’ll need a different type of boat than one packed with amenities for use at anchor. At Barefoot Charters, clients can choose either one.

“Our philosophy is to let the fast boats do what they do, and let the other boats be more comfortable,” Barnard says, adding that some clients come back year after year, chartering different styles of boats to learn what they like best. “I have owners here who learned to sail here, and they’re getting ready to go off cruising now that their kids are graduating.”

Barnard also says that Barefoot Charters takes its obligation to the natural environment seriously. Stewardship of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a major part of the company’s philosophy, so much so that each charter guest receives a tree to plant while they’re in the archipelago.

“We give a casuarina or flamboyant tree—they’re hardy and can grow here,” Barnard says. “It’s to offset the emissions from the flight down to the islands.”

All in all, Barnard says, the experience that charter guests can have with Barefoot Charters is unlike any other. As just one example, there’s the island of Mustique, which often closes to the public because it’s a favorite haunt of the rich and famous. Here, as with other locations throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines, clients of Barefoot Charters enjoy special privileges.

“We’ve been able to negotiate access for our clients to Mustique,” Barnard says. “They can go horseback riding, rent a Mule—the golf cart, not the donkeys—and go all around the island. The same is true at Palm Island, which is also exclusive. Our guests can access the hotel grounds and spa with a day pass.

“Because we know so many people around these islands,” he adds, “we have access to a lot of back doors.”

To book a vacation with Barefoot Yachts, visit barefootyachts.com.

The post Local Knowledge, Since 1902 appeared first on Cruising World.